Saint Barnabas

Born sometime before the first century in Cyprus, he was brought up as a Jew but converted after meeting Jesus. He became a friend of St. Paul, who accompanied him on his first mission, and later returned to Cyprus as a missionary where he was stoned or burned by Jews in 60 or 61 AD. His name and example inspired an order of monks known as the Barnabites, which was founded in 1530. He is the patron saint of weavers and coopers and protects against falling rocks, hailstones and grief.